College-type Curriculum to be Introduced at St. Vincent’s
New Program Underscores Fr. Joe’s "University of the Human Spirit Philosophy"

   SAN DIEGO — St. Vincent de Paul Village will hold a news conference to introduce a college-type curriculum for clients on Tuesday, July 9, at 3 p.m., at its 1501 Imperial Avenue facility.

   The new program, called Bridges to Independence, is similar to the credit-hour system utilized by many universities and other institutions of higher learning. The goal of the ground-breaking approach to client rehabilitation, says St. Vincent’s President Fr. Joe Carroll, is to provide clients with attainable benchmarks which can be easily tracked by placing unit values on various accomplishments, a rehabilitation philosophy never before implemented by a homeless services agency. The accomplishments range from obtaining a valid picture identification card to receiving a permanent source of income.

   "There will be four different levels – basic, intermediate, advanced and advanced with honors – each of which require our clients to meet specific criteria," Fr. Joe says. "In order to move on, you must complete all required tasks for your current level, much in the same way a college student has to complete prerequisites before moving from the freshmen class to the sophomore class, and so on."

   Fr. Joe says there will be celebratory events for clients who reach the milestones for each of the four levels, culminating in a graduation once the final level is completed.

   "Bridges to Independence is an extension of what I like to call our university of the human spirit philosophy," Fr. Joe says. "Everyone at the Village – from clients to staff to the doctors working at the clinic – is growing, both intellectually and emotionally. It’s truly inspirational, all that is learned at a simple homeless shelter."

   For more information on the news conference, call (619) 525-1608.

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